Two premiership favourites go head to head tonight in a tantalising preliminary final replay between Hawthorn and Collingwood. We’ll have live scores and updates from 7.30pm AEDT.
The last time these teams met, Hawthorn’s 2011 campaign came to a heartbreaking end in a classic final.
Collingwood came from 17 points behind at three quarter time to steal victory by three points and book a date with Geelong in the Grand Final.
Now, they meet again.
The Hawks are favourites this time around, thanks in part to the Pies carrying a slightly different look about them. Nathan Buckley is in charge and there have been some notable personnel changes.
But both teams remain highly rated, and the Hawks went 0-5 against the Pies and Cats last year has been a talking point.
Stopping Travis Cloke will be one of the keys for Hawthorn going into this game. Cloke and Chris Dawes combined for six goals in that preliminary final last year, and it will be up to Josh Gibson and Ryan Schoenmakers to contain them again.
The big news in the midfield was Hawk Luke Hodge’s non-selection, out with injury. This is where the balance may swing back to the Pies.
Dane Swan had a quiet preseason, but you suspect it’ll take him about five minutes to silence any doubts over that. With Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas and an in-form Luke Ball, the Pies should win plenty of the footy.
In the ruck, all eyes will be on ex-Brisbane player Broc McCauley, who comes in to replace the injured Max Bailey. Last year he was the No. 4 ruck at the Lions. Now he’s the No. 1 ruck at the premiership favourites. Is this a recipe for disaster?
Lance Franklin has kicked four bags of five goals or more in the nine times he has played Collingwood. With no Chris Tarrant or Nathan Brown, he’s a chance to add another game to that list.
The favouritism may have slowly turned against the Pies over the summer, but to be fair to them, both sides have significant absentees. Stephen Gilham is yet to return to bolster the key defender stocks, Bailey is out and, of course, Hodge is out.
This is looking like a far more even battle than some are predicting.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Of course, MCC and AFL members reserve may have been at fault.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Shame, surprised to see such little difference between a thursday and a friday night crowd.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I'm surprised that only 78,464 made it to the game last night, only 200 more than the previous night, you would have thought it would have pushed 85,000 with ease. The AFL falls short of reaching 200,000 from the first 3 games of the season.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Turns out it was pretty good.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Thanks Cattery, was a top game - and to think, next week we could have more of the same considering there's a Geelong-Hawthorn clash!
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Thanks Sibbo, enjoy the win.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
FULL TIME Hawthorn 20.17 (137) Collingwood 16.19 (115) Well, well, well. What a game. Not really going out on a limb in calling it game of the season (at this stage anyway) but it was a great contest. Fast-paced, frantic, plenty of goals, a ridiculous amount of highlights and, up until very late in the piece, even. For Collingwood, they’ll be wondering what might’ve been had they taken their chances early. I’ve already said this, but Hawthorn made the tough goals look easy, while Collingwood made the easy goals look tough. Pendlebury was comfortably their best. For Hawthorn, it’s their first win over the Pies since Round 22, 2010. They stood up to one of their key rivals and they’ll take plenty of confidence from that. Franklin’s 5 will be talked about, but Rioli stepped up at a really crucial time. Mitchell saw plenty of the pill all night, while Whitecross’s 22 touches and two goals was noteworthy. MAJOR BALL WINNERS: Hawthorn: Mitchell 31, Birchall 28, Sewell 26, Suckling 25 Collingwood: Pendlebury 33, Swan 31, Sidebottom 23, Ball 21 GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Smith 2, Rioli 2, Lewis 2, Whitecross 2, Osborne, Gunston, McCauley, Burgoyne, Birchall, Savage Collingwood: Blair 3, Pendlebury 2, Cloke 2, Fasolo 2, Jolly 2, Thomas 2, Swan, Shaw, Paine DREAM TEAM LEADERS: Pendlebury (Coll) 132, Franklin (Haw) 130, Mitchell (Haw) 127, Birchall (Haw) 118
Sibbo
Guest
Top updates tonight, only way of keeping up with it in London! Hawks!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
good call tonight Michael - let's a hope a few of the other games come close to this one in quality
The Cattery
Roar Guru
that's it, hawks have the break now late in the game, pies just couldn't go with them those last few minutes, but congratulations to both teams for a great game of footy tonight, first round, players out on both sides, and they really served it up
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Well if Buddy's goal wasn't, THAT was a sealer. Osborne, who's been lively in this final quarter, gets one. Hawthorn 20.16 (136) Collingwood 15.17 (107) Roughly 4min left, 4th quarter
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Buddy Franklin running towards the goal square, gets on the end of it and goals. That's probably the sealer. (Channel Seven's countdown clock is having issues, coming and going, so we can only guess how long's left.) Hawthorn 19.16 (130) Collingwood 15.17 (107) 6min left, 4th quarter
The Cattery
Roar Guru
What??!! You gotta be kidding me - big men aren't allowed to kick goals like that! Handy break for the Hawks, plenty of time, but there are a lot of tired legs out there.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Jack Gunston with the crucial goal! The Adelaide recruit takes a free from the boundary 45m out. Hawthorn 18.16 (124) Collingwood 15.16 (106) 7min left, 4th quarter
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Three consecutive behinds for Hawthorn. Could be important points. Hawthorn 17.16 (118) Collingwood 15.16 (106) Roughly 7min left, 4th quarter
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Buddy smothers, Osborne picks it up, dishes it to Smith and ... two in a row for the Hawks. All of the sudden they're up by 9. Hawthorn 17.13 (115) Collingwood 15.16 (106) 10min left, 4th quarter
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Shane Savage with a long bomb, this time the Hawks get a goal. What a game! Hawthorn 16.13 (109) Collingwood 15.16 (106) 11min left, 4th quarter
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Again Franklin has missed, from a similar distance too. Sewell was on the wing and looked for Osborne, who was pushed out of it by Heath Shaw. Umpire paid the free and Osborne opted for a short kick to Buddy. Hawthorn 15.13 (103) Collingwood 15.16 (106) 11min left, 4th quarter
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Hawks look for the quick response and find Buddy 50m out. Can't convert though. Ladies and gentlemen, it's a four-point game. Hawthorn 15.12 (102) Collingwood 15.16 (106) 13min left, 4th quarter
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Amazing stuff, pies finally get three straight, both sides have just not let up the whole game